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{{Short description|2009 book by Robert Greene and 50 Cent}}
{{Infobox book
| name = The 50th Law
| translator =
| image = The50thLawBook.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Paperback edition
| author = Robert Greene, [[Biography:50 Cent|50 Cent]]
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United States
| language = English
| series =
| subject = Strategy, self-help, philosophy
| genre = Non-fiction
| published = September 8, 2009 
| publisher = Harper Studio
| media_type = Print
| pages =
| isbn =
| oclc =
| preceded_by = The 33 Strategies of War
| followed_by = Mastery
}}

'''''The 50th Law''''' is a ''{{wipe|New York Times}}'' bestselling book on strategy and fearlessness written collaboratively by rapper [[Biography:50 Cent|50 Cent]] and author Robert Greene.<ref name=Vibe>{{cite web|title=50 Cent is New York Times Certified| url=http://www.vibe.com/article/50-cent-new-york-times-certified| publisher=Vibe |date=September 28, 2009}}</ref><ref name=NYTimeslist>{{cite news|title=Bestsellers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2009-09-27/hardcover-advice/list.html|work=New York Times|date=September 27, 2009|first=Jennifer|last=Schuessler}}</ref><ref name=InsidetheList>{{cite news|last=Schuessler|first=Jennifer|title=Inside the List|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/books/review/InsideList-t.html?ref=books|work=New York Times|date=September 18, 2009}}</ref> The book is a semi-autobiographical account detailing 50 Cent's rise as both a young urban hustler and as an up-and-coming musician with lessons and anecdotes from historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, [[Biography:Sun Tzu|Sun Tzu]], [[Biography:Socrates|Socrates]], Napoleon, Malcolm X, and [[Biography:James Baldwin|James Baldwin]].<ref name=50thlawbook>{{cite book |title=The 50th Law |author1=((50 Cent)) |author2=Greene, Robert|year=2009 |publisher=HarperStudio |location=New York |isbn=978-1846680687 |pages=291 }}</ref><ref name=BusinessInsider>{{cite web|last=Groth|first=Aimee|title=10 Tips For Becoming Fearless Like 50 Cent |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/robert-greene-and-50-cents-50th-law-2012-5?op=1|publisher=Business Insider|date=May 10, 2012}}</ref><ref name=TheAustralian>{{cite news|last=Goodman|first=Matthew|title=Rapper's latest hit for business scene|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/rappers-latest-hit-for-business-scene/story-e6frg8n6-1225792219460|newspaper=The Australian|date=October 29, 2009}}</ref>

==Origins==
''The 50th Law'' grew out of the friendship and mutual admiration between 50 Cent and Robert Greene.<ref name=Forbes>{{cite news|last=Alder|first=Daniel|title=50 Cent's Partner In Prose|url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/07/08/fifty-cent-music-publishing-business-media-cash-kings-fifty.html|newspaper=Forbes|date=September 7, 2009}}</ref> Greene's book ''[[Finance:The 48 Laws of Power|The 48 Laws of Power]]'', which has long been a staple in the hip hop world, came to the attention of 50 Cent, who asked his manager to arrange a meeting. Greene said that he was surprised by 50 Cent's persona and was impressed by his "Zen-like calmness" and eye for strategy.<ref name=the50thelaw>[http://powerseductionandwar.com/the-50th-law/ The 50th Law]. ''Power Seduction and War''. June 11, 2009.</ref> The two began to work on a book project that would combine their two worlds.<ref name=the50thelaw/><ref name=CNBC>{{cite web|title=50 Cent sits down with CNBC and talks about his new book "The 50th Law|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCzb5zpV0PA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/gCzb5zpV0PA |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|publisher=CNBC|date=October 1, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

According to Greene, 50 Cent is an example of what Machiavelli called a ''New Prince,'' a leader who emerges in a time of chaos or turmoil and rewrites the rules.<ref name=the50thelaw/> According to 50 Cent, Greene's books describe the laws and strategies used by hustlers on the street, even if they might not know the "technical terms" for what they were doing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlp66y9ML3o 50 Cent Presents "The 50th Law" – Book with Robert Greene]. ''YouTube''. September 7, 2009.</ref>

==Synopsis==
Each of the 10 chapters in the book explains a factor of fearlessness and begins by telling how 50 Cent learned this Fearless Philosophy in Southside Queens.<ref name=HuffPost>{{cite news|last=Richards|first=Jason|title=Interview: Robert Greene on 50 Cent|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-richards/interview-robert-greene-o_b_289888.html|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=September 17, 2009}}</ref> ''The 50th Law'' illustrates the laws of the book by supplementing anecdotes from 50 Cent's life with historical examples from Malcolm X, Miles Davis, [[Biography:Sun Tzu|Sun Tzu]], [[Biography:François de La Rochefoucauld (writer)|François de La Rochefoucauld]], [[Biography:Niccolò Machiavelli|Machiavelli]], [[Biography:Richard Wright (author)|Richard Wright]], [[Biography:James Baldwin|James Baldwin]], [[Biography:Thucydides|Thucydides]], Dostoyevsky, Charlie Parker, and the [[Biography:Montesquieu|Baron de Montesquieu]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-10-13/music/on-50-cent-s-surreally-insightful-self-help-book-the-50th-law/ |title=The Eight Dookie Ropes of Wisdom in Fiddy Cent's Self-Help Book |newspaper=Village Voice |author=Rob Harvilla |date=October 13, 2009}}</ref><ref name=FastCompany>{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Lynne|title=The 50 Cent Bible|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1353390/50-cent-bible|publisher=Fast Company|date=September 10, 2009}}</ref><ref name=Billboard>{{cite web|last=Neilan|first=Catherine|title=50 Cent Business Book 'The 50th Law' Due This Fall|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267962/50-cent-business-book-the-50th-law-due-this-fall|publisher=Billboard|date=July 23, 2009}}</ref>

==Reception==
The book debuted at #5 on ''The New York Times'' Bestseller list and was a ''[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]]'' bestseller.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2009-09-27/hardcover-advice/list.html Hardcover Advice & Misc. Bestsellers]. ''New York Times''. September 27, 2009.</ref><ref name=USATodaylist>{{cite news|title=USA Today Money best sellers|newspaper=USA Today|date=October 12, 2009}}</ref><ref name=USAToday>{{cite news|title=The 50th Law|url=http://books.usatoday.com/book/50-cent-robert-greene-the-50th-law/l28947|publisher=USA Today}}</ref> The book was met with positive reviews, with the ''New York Post'' calling ''The 50th Law'' "a modern day ''Art of War''," ''{{wipe|The Guardian}}'' referring to the book as "a manual on power similar to the works of Machiavelli and Sun Tzu," and ''Library Journal'' stating that ''The 50th Law'' is written for "anyone interested in how to succeed in business and the game of life."<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news|last=Burkeman|first=Oliver|title=When the gangsta rapper met the self-help guru|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2009/sep/05/50-cent-robert-greene-interview|newspaper=The Guardian|date=September 4, 2009|location=London}}</ref><ref name=NYPost>{{cite news|last=Getlen|first=Larry|title=Talking Cents|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/books/item_tguY4nvmF3fQokWV94jfnO|newspaper=New York Post|date=September 20, 2009}}</ref><ref name=LibraryJournal>{{cite web|last=Finnell|first=Joshua|title=The Blingdom of God: Books on the Religion of Hip-Hop|url=http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6678919.html|publisher=Library Journal|date=August 20, 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915025144/http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6678919.html|archivedate=September 15, 2012}}</ref>

The book was also featured in ''{{wipe|The New York Times}}'', MSNBC, ''Huffington Post'', ''[[Social:The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'', ''The New York Daily News'', ''{{wipe|Forbes}}'', Business Insider, ''Fast Company'', ''The Telegraph'', MTV, ''Vibe'' and ''Billboard''.<ref name=Vibe/><ref name="NYTimeslist"/><ref name="BusinessInsider"/><ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="HuffPost"/><ref name="FastCompany"/><ref name=Billboard/><ref name="Guardian"/><ref name=MSNBC>{{cite web|title=50 Cent's words of wisdom: Face reality|url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32691328/ns/today-today_books/#.UFbGCqRrOs9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907150538/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32691328/ns/today-today_books/#.UFbGCqRrOs9|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 7, 2009|publisher=MSNBC|date=September 8, 2009}}</ref><ref name=HuffPOstexcerpt>{{cite news|last=Greene|first=Robert|title=Keep Moving -- Flow|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/curtis-50-cent-jackson/keep-moving----flow_b_380221.html|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=December 4, 2009}}</ref><ref name=NYDailyNews>{{cite news|last=Pearson|first=Erica|title=50 Cent pimps his new self-help book, 'The 50th Law' at Barnes & Noble|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-09-11/local/17933839_1_barnes-noble-noble-bookstore-postal-worker|newspaper=The New York Daily News|date=September 11, 2009}}</ref><ref name=MTVnews>{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=50 Cent Signs Copies Of His New Book 'The 50th Law'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621181/50-cent-signs-copies-his-new-book-50th-law.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|date=September 10, 2009}}</ref><ref name=DailyTelegraph>{{cite news|last=Gora|first=Bronwen|title=Stars with the Midas touch|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/insider/stars-with-the-midas-touch/story-e6frewt9-1225797718279|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=November 14, 2009}}</ref> In promotion of the book, Greene and 50 Cent appeared on ''The Today Show'', {{wipe|CNBC}}, ABC, BBC and MTV News.<ref name=CNBC/><ref name="MTVnews"/><ref name=TodayShow>{{cite web|title=50 Cent On The Today Show for supporting his new book "The 50th Law"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e52S-lgtRq0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/e52S-lgtRq0 |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|publisher=The Today Show|date=October 1, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=ABCNews>{{cite web|title=The 50 Cent Empire|url=https://abcnews.go.com/video/playerindex?id=9001375|publisher=ABC News|date=November 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name=ABC7>{{cite web|title=Guest List: 50 Cent|url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources&id=7104591|publisher=ABC|date=November 9, 2009}}</ref><ref name=BBC>{{cite web|title=50 Cent Speaks On Different Types Of Fear|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbiLRFjvoNI#! |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/bbiLRFjvoNI |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|publisher=BBC|date=August 28, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=BusinessInsider2>{{cite news|last=Saint|first=Nick|title=Get Rich Or Die Tryin': 50 Cent's Guide To Success|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/get-rich-or-die-tryin-50-cents-guide-to-success-2009-9|newspaper=Business Insider|date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> ''The 50th Law'' was also published as a 60-page comic book.<ref name=ComicBook>{{cite web|last=Coleman|first=C. Vernon|title=50 Cent Making "SmartComic" Version of "The 50th Law"|url=http://hiphopwired.com/2011/07/25/50-cent-making-%E2%80%9Csmartcomic%E2%80%9D-version-of-%E2%80%9Cthe-50th-law%E2%80%9D/|publisher=Hip Hop Wired|date=July 25, 2011|access-date=2012-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107170804/http://hiphopwired.com/2011/07/25/50-cent-making-%e2%80%9csmartcomic%e2%80%9d-version-of-%e2%80%9cthe-50th-law%e2%80%9d/|archive-date=2011-11-07|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=XXL>{{cite web|title=XXL Quick Hitters: 50 Cent, Shyne, Diddy and The Weekend, Just Blaze And Saigon|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/05/xxl-quick-hitters-50-cent-shyne-diddy-and-the-weekend-just-blaze-and-saigon/|publisher=XXL|date=May 29, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150421052623/http://robertgreene.net/50-cent-the-50th-law.html Robert Greene and 50 Cent's ''The 50th Law''] Summary of each chapter, along with a video interview from Robert Greene about the book
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091103113439/http://www.slideshare.net/RobertGreene/the-50th-law-10-lessons-in-fearlessness ''The 50th Law: 10 Lessons in Fearlessness''] ebook presentation


{{DEFAULTSORT:50th Law}}
[[Category:Business books]]

{{Sourceattribution|The 50th Law}}